Saving Wrigley Field | How a 100-Year-Old Ballpark was Preserved for Generations to Come

Restoring and expanding a 100-year-old ballpark was no small feat. See what it took to ensure the future of the Friendly Confines was secure for the next 100 years. "Saving Wrigley Field" details the multi-year journey to preserve the magic of this beloved ballpark.

Wrigley Field has played an important role in the development of professional baseball and has been the site of numerous baseball milestones, including Babe Ruth’s supposed “called shot” in the 1932 World Series, Gabby Hartnett’s “homer in the gloamin’,” Ernie Banks’ 500th career home run and Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game. Wrigley Field is the only Major League Baseball (MLB) ballpark still standing in which Jackie Robinson played and, in May 1943, it was the site of the final tryouts and organization of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the first major women's professional sports league in the United States.

With the completion of the 1060 Project and its recent designation as a National Historic Landmark, Wrigley Field will continue to be a part of history for generations to come.

Follow us!

[davidstepeck]

As a Yankees fan, I was really impressed that the Rickett family saved the ballpark and made it a crown jewel of MLB and such historic significance. To lose the original Yankee Stadium and the batters box where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Derek Jeter stood was a crime.

[addisonroeschley]

“This has to be the ballpark your grandfather recognizes” really holds true to the experience of a Cubs fan going to games as a child with my grandfather. The memories will never fade.

[grousetheghoul]

Wrigley Field and Fenway Park deserve to be here for future generations of baseball fans.

[Drewpski]

I cried 3 times during this video because my grandpa has a brick around the ball park, he passed in 2014 before he could see them win it all. I cry just thinking about the brick and that his mark is on the stadium. He is the reason I am a cubs fan.

[TK__]

What the Ricketts Family did to preserve this park is unprecedented. They should have a Ricketts Day every year in Chicago. Respect.

[Chris-lwbo]

Wrigley is so much more than a ballpark. It's almost like holy ground - a cathedral. We've fallen in love there, had our hearts broken (more than a few times), and, sometimes...just sometimes, raise our collective voices to the heavens in absolute, joyous, riotous delight. Go Cubs Go!!!

[joevignoloru]

I'm a Red Sox fan who attended my first game at Wrigley Field in 2017. When I went into the stands and saw the field for the first time it got me very emotional. I remembered the first time I walked into Fenway Park when I was 10 years old and the connection between the two old ballparks was very special. Then during a rain delay the Cubs showed a 10 minute video about the history of Fenway Park. Imagine being a Red Sox fan and seeing that in Wrigley Field.

[arthousecouch]

I've been a lifelong Braves fan, but The best baseball experience I've ever had is the one time I've been to Wrigley Field. It was just a simple afternoon game against the Phillies, but it felt like a perfect encapsulation of what baseball was, and should be. Respect.

[bazzer]

2023, this year, will mark my 61st season of going to Cubs games at Wrigley. One of the best descriptions that I ever heard is Wrigley Field is the national cathedral of baseball and I believe it. I have attended games from Candlestick Park and the Oakland Coliseum to Comiskey Park to Veteran's Stadium in Philly and have never been to a more beautiful and fan-loved park in the entire sport. Go Cubs! Cheers....

[indyracingnut]

I'm not even a Cubs fan, and this brings me to I just love the game of baseball that much.

[thorstenbuechner]

The commitment of the Rickett family to that place is impressive. In England the owners tear down the beautiful Archibald Leitch stadiums all over the country. In Germany the new football stadiums all look the same with no architectual idiosyncracies whatsoever. All of them totally boring. But the Cubs, the Ricketts and the City of Chicago gave an example how to protect and preserve a place of collective rememberance. Can't wait to revisit.

[Adam-keuh]

As a life long Yankees fan, I can appreciate this. Nothing but respect for the Cubs. And a touch of jealousy that we lost the Real Yankee Stadium.

[dougcurtis]

As a life long cardinals fan, there is nothing greater than Wrigley Field. I promise every cardinals fan has a warm place in our hearts for the Friendly Confines. Hats off to the ownership and their stewardship of the field and the team. Much love from STL!

[JoshTheOther]

I'm a sox fan, but Wrigley Field is a national treasure. I'm so so glad that Wrigley and Fenway are still around for baseball fans to enjoy--the history and culture of the game is such a big part of what makes it beautiful for me. :)

[bobbylee]

A Cubs fan since I was ten years old growing up in the Western 'burbs of Chicago. Now I'm seventy five and just had my first heart attack. I can die peacefully because the Cubs are '16 World Series champs...and I have the Cubs shirt showing my pride. Good job, Rickets family...very good job.

[stanleyslawski]

On August 15, 1964 I was all excited because my Little League team was being treated to a Cub game at Little did I know how special that day would be.
I thought it was just our team, having won the championship, but as we got on the busses, I saw that all the teams were coming, and we were all in our uniforms. Arriving at Wrigley, they had us line up outside, and as I looked around, there had to be hundreds of Little Leaguers there, from all over Chicagoland. I couldn't figure it out, cause I thought we were special. In fact, as we waited, and waited, and waited, I started to get tired and cranky.... so as we began to walk into the park, my 11 year old self was staring at the ground, not really paying attention.
And then, all of a sudden, I notice grass under my feet! Huh? I look up and see I'M ON THE FIELD! It was Ernie Banks day, and hundreds and hundreds of us Little Leaguers from Chicagoland were on the infield dirt, completely surrounding the infield while they honored Mr. Cub.
Decades later, I found a newspaper photo of that day showing all the kids around Ernie. I copied it, printed it out, and it now has a big circle around the group at second base. "Me, right here somewhere" is how I labeled it.

[stupidd]

Never forget when I first drove up to Wrigley. Trees and houses, trees and houses....BOOM! Legendary stadium!

[lonniestephens]

I am truly proud that Wrigley Field got refurbished!

[randywebb]

Being a Red Sox fan due to living in the general area, I got nothing but the utmost respect for the Ricketts family and those with any affiliation in the involvement of 1060 project renovations for the time and patience to improve the Wrigley field experience for fans and players alike. Ownership of both the BoSox and Cubs knew exactly how to grant the wishes of their respective fan bases and keep the likes of Fenway and Wrigley around for generations to come, all done for a combined total from both park renovations at 1, 035, 000, 000 (750, 000, 000 in Wrigley Field renovations and 285, 000, 000 in Fenway Park renovations).

[SuperStrik]

I'm a Blue Jays fan. Wrigley Field is an icon of baseball. The ivy walls alone make it iconic. Glad it's gonna be here for decades to come.